Democracy and public governance
Democracy is in distress and levels of trust in public institutions are at an all-time low in many OECD countries.
TUAC engages with the OECD’s Public Governance Committee and the Regulatory Policy Committee to promote freedom of association as a pillar of democracy, as well as the role of social dialogue and of trade unions in the development of active citizenship and vibrant civic space. Sound regulatory policies involving trade unions are also key to improve working conditions and address inequalities, which are key drivers of mistrust.
TUAC’s work in this area is led by Martin Denis. For more information, please contact denis@tuac.org.
PRESS RELEASE: Global labour movement stands with Sophie Binet against far-right attacks on trade unions
TUAC President Liz Shuler: charging a union leader for criticising corporate behaviour is “a deliberate strategy to silence workers”. Paris – Trade union leaders gathering in Paris today have condemned the prosecution of Sophie Binet, General Secretary of France’s CGT. Ms Binet ...
TUAC challenges regulatory policy bias that favours business costs over worker protections
At the OECD’s ‘Simplifying for Success’ Symposium on 18 November, trade unions raised deep concerns about exclusionary regulatory practices, arguing that measurement frameworks depend almost entirely on business surveys and cost models whilst marginalising the benefits of regulation. ...
TUAC calls for stronger worker protections in Latin America and Caribbean governance reforms
TUAC called for stronger trade union participation in governance systems across Latin America and the Caribbean at the Third OECD Ministerial Summit on Governance in Asunción, Paraguay on 11 November. Trade unionists including CUT Paraguay General Secretary, Mirtha Arias Noguer, challenged ...
Put people at the core of rulemaking, TUAC urges after new OECD review
While many countries across the OECD are seeking to bolster competitiveness and productivity by simplifying regulations and cutting so-called “red tape”, TUAC warns against the risks of a new wave of outright deregulation which will lower protections for workers, increase inequality and ...
Trade Unions Call for Worker-Focused Economic Reform at OECD Ministerial Council Meeting
Trade unions engaged directly with OECD governments at the 2025 Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) in Paris this week, advocating for worker-centered approaches to trade, technology, and climate policies amid persistent inequality concerns. TUAC delivered a comprehensive alternative vision in its ...
TUAC raises concerns over regulatory simplification at OECD policy roundtable
TUAC voiced concerns about the focus on regulatory burden reduction Regulatory Policy Committee’s “Simplifying for Success” roundtable on 10 April, following the launch of the 2025 OECD Regulatory Policy Outlook on 9 April. The roundtable comes amid a new wave of deregulation ...
TUAC calls for urgent action on rising inequality and workers’ rights
TUAC General Secretary Veronica Nilsson warned of growing inequality and workers’ rights challenges during the World Economic Forum’s “Closing the Jobs Gap” panel today. Speaking alongside the ILO Director-General and business leaders, Nilsson highlighted growing ...
Unions and democracy
Social dialogue is too rarely considered in the debate about strengthening democracy. That’s the key claim in an article ‘Democracy at work and beyond: the role of trade unions in strengthening citizens’ participation and trust in public institutions’ by TUAC General Secretary ...
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Consultation with unions part of solution to lack of trust
Almost half of citizens in the OECD do not trust their governments. A shocking 44% of respondents have low or no trust in their national government, according to a new OECD study carried out in late 2023 in 30 countries including France, Germany, Italy and UK. ...
